This Open Drawing Session of Inspired by the Masters is dedicated to Andrea Morani’s take on “Sick Bacchus” one of Caravaggio’s early works. Or may be his inspiration is St. John the Baptist, or may be both.

What is sure is that the reference photo we will be using for this 2:30 hour, online drawing session will be an excellent source of inspiration to practice figure drawing, develop the body’s volumes with light and shadow effects, capture the dynamism of the body.

We will be drawing this striking pose using charcoal and chalk on toned paper, paying particular attention to the chiaroscuro effects of the light on the forms of the body, practice measuring the figure accurately and render it tonally.

Materials:

• Charcoal sticks in medium, soft and extra soft gradations. My favorite brand is Nitram, but you can use any charcoal brand you are used to. Do not use willow charcoal because it is too weak for our purposes.
• Compressed charcoal pencils in medium, soft and extra soft gradation, General’s is a very good and cheap brand.
• White chalk in pencils and-or sticks.
• Paper: Medium value, tan or gray toned paper such as Canson, Mi teintes, Fabriano, Hahnemuhle or Strathmore Charcoal toned.
• Kneaded eraser, pencil sharpener, sand paper,